The English Corner at Richland College
Modifiers
Modifiers are words or phrases that act as descriptors to the primary noun or nouns in a sentence
(example: the words public and secondary in public secondary school). Modifiers act as
adjectives or adverbs that add limits or qualifications to the meaning of other words in the
sentence.
Dangling Modifiers
Your modifier is dangling if you have used descriptive language when the subject is missing or
unclear. Be sure to include the subject that you intend to modify when writing.
Incorrect: After reading the assigned text, the essay is still unclear.
Revised: After reading the assigned text, I still find the essay unclear.
Misplaced Modifiers
A misplaced modifier is a descriptive word or phrase that is incorrectly separated from what it is
modifying. When you misuse or misplace a modifier, the sentence becomes confusing, unclear,
and/or absurd.
Incorrect: She wrapped presents to the children in old maps.
(Written like this, the sentence sounds like you are implying that the children live inside
old maps, which is not likely what you mean.)
Revised: She wrapped the children’s presents in old maps.
Nonrestrictive Modifiers
A nonrestrictive modifier adds information that is not necessary to understanding the sentence. If
you are unsure if something is a nonrestrictive modifier, you may test the sentence by reading it
without the descriptive section (nonrestrictive modifiers are offset with commas).
Example: Paul, who is my dentist, gave me tickets to the baseball game.
Example: The eggs, which are on the table, are rotten.
Restrictive Modifiers
A restrictive modifier is something that is essential to understanding the sentence (this can be a
word or phrase). You will use this kind of modifier to describe something identifying about what
you wish to convey.
Example: My dog chewed the shoes that are worth more than my monthly rent.
When referencing (modifying) a person, use who instead of that.
Incorrect: The student that failed her first essay wanted help with revising.
Revised: The student who failed her first essay wanted help with revising.
Handout created by Sarah Warren
www.richlandcollege.edu/englishcorner